(Stars and Stripes)

AGANA HEIGHTS, Guam – It took American School In Japan four tries, but the Mustangs finally solved the Kubasaki puzzle.

The Far East Girls Division I soccer tournament final went scoreless through full time and four overtime periods, before the Mustangs outshot the Dragons 5-4 in penalty kicks to capture the title Wednesday at Guam High’s Panthers Field.

“Good for the girls. I know they’ve been working hard. They’re excited,” said Mustangs athletics director Tim Jacobsson.

ASIJ captured its first D-I title since 2018 and its fifth overall. The Dragons, meanwhile, were trying for their second straight and Pacific-best ninth overall.

Wednesday’s epic battle was the fourth time the Dragons and Mustangs played a match that went scoreless through full time.

Two of them ended in scoreless draws. Kubasaki outlasted the Mustangs in penalties earlier this month at the ASIJ spring soccer festival. And the D-I tournament began with ASIJ and the Dragons going scoreless in pool play.

This time, the Mustangs made good on all five of their penalties, Olivia Draper, Luisa Schlaghecke, Rachael Fagan, Mizuho Yoshitake and Ava Piscopo.

Kubasaki could only respond with four, by Solares Solano, Kayla Jackson, Charlene Darson and Amaya Schaffeld.

Jacobsson credited all those who scored, also singling out Maya Landon, whom he called a “super goalie.”

“Rachael is a freshman, she’s been a great addition to the team. And we have a great defensive line, Ava heads up that,” Jacobsson said.

The Mustangs departed Tokyo for Guam wanting to play Kubasaki once more and this time get the upper hand, Jacobsson said.

“They were hoping to get Kubasaki in the finals and come out on top,” Jacobsson said. “This is a great thing for them.”